LGA responds to survey calling for improvements to housing for older people

8 Dec 2020 10:25 AM

Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing spokesperson, responded to a survey by Later Life Ambitions and the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO), which has found nine in 10 say government must improve housing for older people 

“Providing accessible and adaptable housing for older people needs to be a key part of our national ambition to build new homes.

“Good housing is a major contributor to good health and care. Accessible and adaptable homes, including support for those with care needs, can keep people safe and independent in their own homes for longer, and prevent avoidable hospital and care home admissions.

“However, our ageing population means more people aged 65 and over are becoming a growing part of our housing market, living in a third of all homes, often unsuitable for their needs.

“The Government needs to work with councils, developers and housing associations to provide a sustainable funding framework through which to offer the certainty and clarity to invest in the future development of housing for people with a range of needs, alongside adapting existing housing stock and other home improvements.

“It should give councils the powers and resources to get back to building the homes the country needs, with a new generation of 100,000 social homes for rent each year.”

Later Life Ambitions / Associated Retirement Community Operators survey